Sept. 21, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Ohio field hockey team gave everything it had to earn their biggest win of the season and pull off an upset over No. 8 Virginia, but came up just short, falling 2-1 in overtime Sunday afternoon. The match was the Bobcats' third overtime game this season, with the team going 1-2 in those games. It was also Ohio's fifth one-goal game this season, with the `Cats going 2-3 in those narrow games.
"We continue to compete against the best teams in the country, but we can't get the results we want in the 70 minutes or however long it takes," Ohio head coach Neil Macmillan said. "We're being really competitive. The first half was a great first half of hockey for us and to go into the half up one to nothing was excellent. In the second half we didn't create an attack. We got into their quarter of the field enough, but not into the "D" enough to get goal-scoring opportunities. I have to give our defense, and that means all 11 players on the field, a lot of credit because we hung on."
Virginia (8-1) jumped out to a fast start, firing the first four shots of the game and earning four penalty corners in the first 21 minutes of play. The Bobcats (2-5) would not be discouraged however, as senior goalie Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.) made three early saves to keep the game scoreless.
In the 29th minute, Ohio senior Rachelle Coetzee (Bloemfontein, S.A.) put the Bobcats' only shot of the half past senior Cavalier keeper Amy Desjadon off a penalty corner, to give Ohio the 1-0 lead. The goal was Coetzee's second of the year, while seniors Nikki Gnozzio (Flanders, N.J.) and Lauren Stahlhuth (St. Louis, Mo.) each earned their second assist of the season on the goal.
Despite Virginia outshooting Ohio 5-1 in the first frame, the Bobcats held the 1-0 advantage heading into the break. Martin stopped four shots in the opening half for the `Cats.
The Cavaliers would not go quietly, as junior Traci Ragukas tied the game 20 minutes into the second stanza, off an assist from freshman Floor Vogels.
Virginia controlled the second half, outshooting Ohio 12-0, while earning eight penalty corners to none for the Bobcats. Martin again came up big though, keeping Ohio in the match by making six saves in the second half and forcing the game into overtime tied at one apiece.
"Jessie played a wonderful game, as she kept us in it at the end of the second half, but the defense from all 11 players and everyone who played was fantastic," Macmillan said. "I was really happy with our change of style from yesterday to today."
After Virginia opened overtime with a shot, Ohio earned a penalty corner and junior Marcy Dull (Ephrata, Pa.) ripped a shot from inside the circle, but it was saved by Desjadon. Martin would make two more saves for the Bobcats in the extra frame, before Cavalier freshman Paige Selenski stuck the game-winner into the net eight minutes into overtime, allowing eighth-ranked Virginia to escape with the 2-1 victory. Junior Lauren Elstein garnered the assist on the game-winning goal.
"I thought the hockey gods were on our side after Virginia missed an open goal in overtime, but it wasn't to be today," Macmillan said. "Unfortunately, we had an opportunity on a penalty corner in overtime that we were unable to convert into a goal."
For the match, the Cavaliers had 21 shots to Ohio's two. Senior Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn led Virginia with six shots, all of which landed on goal. The Cavaliers also earned 14 penalty corners, while Ohio managed three.
Martin was stellar in goal all day for the `Cats, denying 12 Virginia shots, three short of her career high. Desjadon recorded just one save for the Cavaliers.
"The key thing for us moving forward is we've had great preparation for the Mid-American Conference regular season," Macmillan said. "We don't have the results that we've had in the last few years or the record, but that aside, we've been competing with the nation's best on a week in week out basis. That is very important going into the game with Central Michigan, who will be ready to play us but won't quite pose a threat the likes of Wake Forest and Virginia."
The Bobcats return to action Friday, Sept. 26 with their MAC opener against Central Michigan. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Pruitt Field in Athens.
